Editorial November 1, 1922 Issue

Grace

Duncan Sinclair

Almost without exception but one Greek word is used in the New Testment for "grace," a term which nearly everybody knows the meaning of, but which most people find it difficult to express in words. "Grace" is frequently used in the New Testament, and not infrequently by Mrs. Eddy in her writings. The Greek word in the New Testament usually translated grace also means favor, gift, benefit, liberality, as well as pleasure, joy, and thanks; so that one has to be guided by the context of the passage, at least to some extent, in getting at the meaning which the writer intended should be conveyed. At the same time, it would undoubtedly appear that, generally speaking, the word "grace" when it has reference to God, as in such an expression as "the grace of God," is intended to convey the meaning of a gift,—something conferred as a favor. And in the light of the teaching of Christian Science, it can be understood as indicating the "fruit of the Spirit," which is the result of spiritual understanding, the wonderful divine influence which heals sickness and destroys sin.

In the first chapter of John's gospel it is said that "the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." What a significant statement is this! Moses formulated the Ten Commandments, a moral code perfectly adapted to the development and sustenance of the moral rectitude of mankind; but how far short the moral law falls of the teachings of Christ Jesus! To the Master, it is true, the moral code remained, fixing the standard of right and wrong to men in their dealings with one another; but he went far beyond it, teaching mankind the lessons of love to God and love to man. Jesus revealed the Father as Spirit, as Truth, as Love; showed the connection between the Father and spiritual man, the Son, and taught that the grace of God was imparted to the Son beyond measure. Was not this illustrated by him throughout the whole of his life-work? The grace of God,—the graciousness of God,—all the love, compassion, kindness, and tender mercy he showed to suffering and sinning humanity, was not this the gift—the grace—of God, or, as it is spoken of in Christian Science, the result of the reflection of divine Love?

The Christ has always been manifested to mankind as evidence of the grace of God; always has revealed itself in that way; and wherever there is the receptive thought, there it finds a lodgment, and there its power will be demonstrated. As Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 333), "Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spiritual idea,—the reflection of God,—has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth." To this generation it has been vouchsafed to receive a great revelation of the grace of God, through Christian Science; for Christian Science teaches all who have ears to hear, all who have eyes to discern, the truth about the unlimited love of God,—how divine Love is reflected by man, and how this reflected love is shown in those works of healing which are the very essence of all that is gracious.

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